By: James Kamara-Manneh
The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) on the 26th March 2022 held a fruitful conference at the Ministry of Finance in Freetown on the production of Securitized Multi-Purpose Identity Cards with ID Verification system for citizens and non-citizens in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the event the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority, Mr. Mohammed Massaquoi gave update on the ratification of a 15 year old Agreement between the National Civil Registration Authority and Constrat Systems SL LTD for the production of Securitized and Multi-Purpose identity Cards (National, ECOWAS complaint), ID Verification system and public key Infrastructure (PKI).
He continued that these chip-based ID cards will ensure proper identification and authentication using the National Identification Number (NIN) as a unique identifier that will neither be duplicated nor refused and assigned from birth to death, thereby strengthening accountability and transparency in public Administration, Governance and accountable service delivery.
He warned that the ID cards with its benefits to citizens of this country any attempt at identity fraud or manipulation will be dealt with. He furthermore categorized the order in which the ID Cards will be produced. These will be the National Identity Cards that will be limited to Sierra Leoneans only, the ECOWAS ID Cards that will be on demand for use within ECOWAS member states.
While the other two will be the Sierra Leone ECOWAS ID Cards also on demand for Sierra Leoneans wishing to travel within member states consistent with the ECOWAS protocol to promote free movement, integration, and trade mobilization etc., and the Non-National ID Cards Mandatory for all foreign residents in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Massaquoi stated that these legal identity documents will be mandatory to access services that include but will not be limited to the following;
Transactions with financial institutions (Banks, Forex, Insurance companies) vehicle registration and licensing, recruitment into public and private institutions for consistency in personal information and verification NASSIT enrollment, land and property registration enrollment onto educational institutions including public exams, SIM card registration to account for every communication in order to halt abuse and pranks.
He also added that these securitized identity cards comes with benefits that will enable citizens and other residents to access services like health care, education, social security, financial transactions, and other public services as well as support tax administration, immigration opportunities, financial inclusion.
More on this he said will also enable citizens and others to exercise their civil rights to secure protection against sexual offences on girl child, child Labour, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, identity manipulation, impersonation by providing proof of identity and other demographic details as such age thus halting dynamism of personal information.
Further More he said identity services will be decentralized where the ID Cards when produced will be issued in District headquarter towns as well as other communities with high population in order to ease the burden on the movement of the public to acquire the ID Cards from Freetown.
Additionally the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority said these identity cards will compliment Governments efforts in providing details of perpetrators of crime to the security sector.
Through the ID verification System the Director General said personal information of people will be authenticated by institutions authorized to access the ID Systems at the NCRA to guarantee consistency of personal information and halt dynamism and abuse of such information thus ensuring a reliable track or record of every transaction whether business or communication digitally.
He concluded by applauding his gratitude and appreciation to the President His Excellency Julius Maada Bio for providing strong and enduring leadership for the people of Sierra Leone with one key achievement being the opportunity for Sierra Leoneans to access this first of its kind Securitized Multi-Purpose identity cards which have not been available for a decade and are consistent with ECOWAS and ICAO standards.
He said this move by the New Direction Government has further retired dignity to the legal identity ecosystem where very one through this instrument will be uniquely identified either as a citizen or a foreign resident.
He also extended his heart felt appreciation to all stakeholders( individual and institutions and development partners) for their patience, understanding and unflinching support to the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) over the years in ensuring that Civil Registration and ID Management become a remarkable success in Sierra Leone.
On the other hand, the General Manager of Contract System Tarek Massane thanked the National Civil Registration Authority and urged Sierra Leoneans to appreciate their incoming identity card that comes with a lot of benefits for the betterment of the country and as a nation.
He said the production for the ID Cards are ongoing and will soon be available and that individual’s information on the ID cards will be secured.
He expressed appreciation working with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) and to be part of this historic process of securitized identification Verification System as they look forward to the best of this new securitized Identification system.
